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Defending Canadian Arctic Sovereignty

New Arctic Operations Base For UK Royal Marine Commandos​

A new Arctic operations base will support Britain’s commandos for the next ten years as the UK underscores its commitment to security in the High North.

Naval News Staff 09 Mar 2023 Article link

Newly-established Camp Viking in northern Norway will serve as the hub for Royal Marines Commandos as they continue to be the tip of the Arctic spear, the unit the UK turns to when it needs troops able to fight in cold weather extremes.

The commandos build on an Arctic warfare heritage going back to the Second World War but, with the re-emergence of the High North as a key theatre, they needed new facilities for a modern era.

The new purpose-built Camp Viking – located in the village of Øverbygd, about 40 miles south of Tromsø – can accommodate all personnel from the UK’s Littoral Response Group (LRG), the commando-led Royal Marines force which reacts to emerging crises in Europe.

The camp is strategically located next to a Norwegian Armed Forces base and near to the established air base at Bardufoss where the Commando Helicopter Force operates. The Commando Helicopter Force is the specialist aviation support for Royal Marines.

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Denmark Begins Procurement Process To Deliver New Capabilities For Arctic Operations​

Denmark has begun the process of procuring systems to increase air, land, and sea presence and surveillance across its Arctic areas of interest.

Dr Lee Willett 13 Feb 2023 Article Link

This procurement process is supporting capability requirements set out in a supplement to the current Danish Defence Agreement (which covers the 2018-23 period). The supplement, known as ‘The Arctic Capability package’, was published in February 2021.

“The work for implementing the agreement has already begun,” Commodore Claus Andersen, a Royal Danish Navy (RDN) officer and Deputy National Armaments Director in Denmark’s Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (DALO), told the SAE Media Group Maritime Reconnaissance and Surveillance Technology conference, held in London on 1-2 February.

First, DALO issued a tender for a medium-altitude/long-endurance, long-range uncrewed aerial vehicle to provide surveillance and intelligence capability. Tender bids are currently being assessed, with contract award anticipated in 2023.


Second, the Joint Arctic Command Denmark (JACO) – headquartered in Nuuk, southwestern Greenland – is being certified as a test and evaluation centre for new surveillance technologies to be operated in the region. “The JACO upgrade will be finalised in the first half of 2023: the basic architecture will be stood up,” Cdre Andersen said. This architecture upgrade includes enhancing JACO’s command-and-control (C2) capabilities.


The C2 upgrade includes the TERMA JIMAPS C4ISR system, and a Systematic SitaWare-based solution, Cdre Andersen told Naval News on 9 February.

These projects include: setting up a surveillance radar on the Faroe Islands; increasing uncrewed capabilities onboard RDN frigates and patrol vessels operating in Arctic regions; enhancing tactical datalinks between these ships and their embarked MH-60R Seahawk helicopters; and improving data analysis capability.
 

New Arctic Operations Base For UK Royal Marine Commandos​

A new Arctic operations base will support Britain’s commandos for the next ten years as the UK underscores its commitment to security in the High North.

Naval News Staff 09 Mar 2023 Article link

I can imagine who they'd post there. ;)

It's near some good ranges in Settermoen, but seems to be exiled wayyyy out on it's own in the east, away from the usual places with military concentrations (and civilization) like Harstad, Narvik etc., and quite a hike from tide water too.
 
Royal Marines mucking around north of the Arctic Circle. Merlins, Bv206s, Skidoos, Skis and Snowshoes.

 
Royal Marines mucking around north of the Arctic Circle. Merlins, Bv206s, Skidoos, Skis and Snowshoes.


The standard has been set ;)

1678488156700.png

Good to see Yankee Coy, 45 CDO again... I was 2IC for a couple of years, many years ago, when we used skis alot. I didn't see any skis, which is both gratifying, and worrying.

Gratifying because it seems they've finally got some serious kit, sleds, and weapons like the .50 cal, which we never had. And proper mountain snowshoes, unlike to disastrous 'tennis rackets' we had.

Worrying because swash buckling about above the treeline, Commando-Style, in the high arctic is alot of fun... until the enemy has air superiority and you become snow pizza. Not being tied to vehicles and their supply chain, and roads, gives you a much better chance of hiding, and avoiding the baddies, and popping in unannounced.

Regardless, good on 'em, and I'd love to go back there ski touring one day - but in the Spring when it stops hitting - 40C ;)
 
The standard has been set ;)

View attachment 76731

Good to see Yankee Coy, 45 CDO again... I was 2IC for a couple of years, many years ago, when we used skis alot. I didn't see any skis, which is both gratifying, and worrying.

Gratifying because it seems they've finally got some serious kit, sleds, and weapons like the .50 cal, which we never had. And proper mountain snowshoes, unlike to disastrous 'tennis rackets' we had.

Worrying because swash buckling about above the treeline, Commando-Style, in the high arctic is alot of fun... until the enemy has air superiority and you become snow pizza. Not being tied to vehicles and their supply chain, and roads, gives you a much better chance of hiding, and avoiding the baddies, and popping in unannounced.

Regardless, good on 'em, and I'd love to go back there ski touring one day - but in the Spring when it stops hitting - 40C ;)

Keen Scottish subby circa 4:34

Talking about leaving the OSRVs and caching them and taking to the skis. The Skidoos are good for getting your kit within skiing distance apparently but ower noisy for the close approach.

And how do I know he is Scottish. The glottal stops. How do I know he is a subby? 1. He is smiling. 2. I can understand him.
 
Keen Scottish subby circa 4:34

Talking about leaving the OSRVs and caching them and taking to the skis. The Skidoos are good for getting your kit within skiing distance apparently but ower noisy for the close approach.

And how do I know he is Scottish. The glottal stops. How do I know he is a subby? 1. He is smiling. 2. I can understand him.

'Taking to the skis' takes a platoon/ troop about 15-20 minutes, and can't be done under fire unless you want to provide the enemy a dream target.

Just a minor detail there ;)
 
Looks like we will be expected to work for a living. AMD coming soon - with us supplying the effectors. Lots and lots of effectors.



“Domain awareness will be important, but that domain awareness needs to feed a globally integrated air and missile defense capability, where you can do real time collaboration — think of JADC2 [Joint All Domain Command and Control] — and you can do that with allies and partners so they can generate effects forward for me,” Gen. Glen VanHerck told a Mitchell Institute seminar Thursday as the organization unveiled a new policy paper, “Bolstering Arctic Domain Awareness to Deter Air & Missile Threats to the Homeland.”

VanHerck said that in his mind, integrated air and missile defense doesn’t start within US borders using kinetic attacks, but instead must take place “forward” both geographically and in time.


Key Points

The Arctic is the preeminent staging ground
for adversary missile attacks because it is the
most direct route from Moscow or Beijing to
Washington DC, and both Russia and China
are subsequently taking steps to increase their
foothold in the Arctic.

The size of the Arctic, and the potential for
large, unpredictable missile raids, creates
a need for new “left-of-launch” capabilities,
such as increased domain awareness, to give
U.S. leaders more options in a crisis.

The Department of Defense (DOD) should launch
a joint capability technology demonstration to
identify promising Arctic missile defeat efforts.
DOD and Congress should establish a
North American Defense Initiative to fund
Arctic domain awareness and infrastructure
upgrades.

The Air Force should exploit existing weapon
systems including Air National Guard MQ-9
Reapers and accelerate procurement of new
systems to bolster Arctic domain awareness.
DOD should continue collaboration with the
commercial space sector to enhance Arctic
communications and reconnaissance.

The United States should encourage allies
and partners to develop more missile defeat
capabilities by offering incentives such as
partnerships and intelligence exchanges.
 
This isn't looking good! Did we jump or were we pushed?

Global Affairs moves arctic centre from Norway to Ottawa after promising to increase foreign presence​

Two weeks after Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly promised to increase Canada’s presence abroad, she's shutting down an arctic centre
Author of the article:
Christopher Nardi
Published Jun 27, 2023 • Last updated 1 minute ago • 3 minute read

5 Comments

Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly delivers remarks at the Global Heads of Mission Meeting discussing the Future of Diplomacy Initiative in Ottawa, on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. PHOTO BY SPENCER COLBY /THE CANADIAN PRESS

OTTAWA – Two weeks after Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly promised to increase Canada’s presence abroad, her department is shutting down an Arctic centre in Norway and relocating it to Ottawa.


Global Affairs Canada spokesperson Charlotte MacLeod confirmed that the department was closing its Canadian International Arctic Centre (CIAC) office in Oslo, Norway, and repatriating its chief to Canada by the early fall

A handful of local staff hired to work at the CIAC in Oslo were also either let go or told their contracts would not be renewed.

In a statement, MacLeod argued the move back to Ottawa would “allow the team to better cooperate with other government departments and agencies, enhance our capacity to deliver on the department’s international Arctic mandate, and strengthen implementation of the International Chapter of the Arctic and Northern Policy Framework.”

But the decision appears in stark contrast to promises by Joly as well as the findings of Future of Diplomacy, the major overhaul of the department published in early June.

“This decision truly makes no sense,” former Canadian ambassador to Norway Artur Wilczynski said in an interview. “It runs so counter the process announced by the minister not to focus people in Ottawa.”

“This was an excellent opportunity for the minister to put words to action and use the CIAC as a model.”

GAC’s review notably found that Canada’s presence, and thus influence, abroad has diminished over the years. The country spends considerably less on foreign affairs, trade and international assistance per capita than many of its allies, and it has diplomatic presence in fewer countries than all its G7 counterparts.

“Canada’s overall presence and ability to exert influence abroad has not kept pace with evolving global realities,” the report found.

“While advances in technology offer new possibilities for virtual and hybrid global engagement, strengthened presence on the ground is required to report, advocate and represent Canada’s strategic interests where it matters most.”

The report also argued GAC should ensure the “adequacy of resources dedicated to the work of the Arctic Council.”

Supporting Canada’s work at the Arctic Council is a key part of what the CIAC does. GAC’s website explains that the centre is one of the two divisions that carries out the department’s Arctic engagement.

In a 2016 blog post, former CIAC head Bob Paquin noted that the centre focuses on Canada’s participation in the Arctic Council, but is “equally focused on other multilateral, regional, and bilateral Arctic-related tasks, in collaboration with other similarly interested groups in government, private sector, and civil society.

“Another advantage of being based in Norway is the access we have to research institutions and NGOs,” Paquin noted, calling Norway a “key hub for the international Arctic agenda.”

“It’s immensely helpful to keep up with current projects and happenings, and to create bilateral connections with Canadian partners in science, technology, academia, and social and cultural work.”

Paquin also noted the CIAC had staff in Washington and Moscow in 2016. GAC did not immediately respond to questions about whether those positions still existed and what would happen to those employees if so.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau insisted on the importance of the Arctic for Canada’s geopolitical and environmental interests Monday during a meeting in Iceland with Nordic prime ministers.

The Arctic is a key line of defence for Canada from potential Russian aggression, namely as Russian President Vladimir Putin has steadily been increasing his country’s presence in the North.

Wilczynski said Canada’s national interests are “in play” when considering the country’s presence in Nordic countries and Arctic multilateral organizations.

“We should be building that capacity. Part of the problem has been that organizations like the CIAC have been whittled down over the years,” he said.

GAC spokesperson MacLeod said Canada’s foreign embassies would continue much of the work done abroad by the CIAC.

“We will continue building upon the good relationships formed through the Canadian International Arctic Centre, many of which are with Northern Canadians, while our global mission network will continue to advance Canadian Arctic interests abroad,” she said.

“Canada’s priorities in the Arctic Council are to maintain a strong focus on Arctic peoples and communities, particularly on sustainable development and environmental protection issues, with our State and Indigenous partners. This includes strong support across the Arctic for continued climate change action, and effective and meaningful participation of Indigenous peoples at the Council.”


The rest of the Arctic Council, in particular the CV90 club, is particularly hawkish on Russia and adamant that 2% of GDP is the minimum buy in.

The only country that doesn't meet the objectives is Iceland.

For the record here is the post-meeting statement of the Nordic Council meeting in Iceland, just completed, where Canada was a guest.

The combined statement talks about everything but the present and bullets.

Trudeau is standing fast and holding on to his principles. I am guessing, like his father, they are like diamonds to him. Principles/Conclusions first.
 
It's hard to schmooze your way up the PS ladder from across the Atlantic, so they need to move back to Ottawa to advance their careers...
If Joly keeps up with her foreign affairs repatriation plan, it’ll be 100% packed into the Lester B. Pearson Building on Sussex.
 
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